Condos proposed for Fireside

North County Times
By: QUINN EASTMAN - Staff Writer

Dec. 11, 2004

ESCONDIDO --- The city's Planning Commission will discuss two major redevelopment proposals at its meeting Tuesday. The Fireside Restaurant in downtown Escondido and an abandoned former hotel in south Escondido are both under consideration as sites for condominiums.

San Diego-based American National Investments has applied to build a 72-unit condominium project on the site of the Fireside Restaurant at 439 W. Washington Ave. The proposal requires an amendment to the city's Downtown Specific Plan, which outlines the types of development allowed in the area.

Fireside owners Ray and Arvie Alto asked the city in September to change the property's zoning from retail to a mixed-use of commercial and residential, but the buyer of the property was not then known. The buyer, American National Investments, developed Music Village in downtown San Diego, among other projects, according to the firm's Web site.

City officials have said that the Fireside Condominiums proposal fits with their strategy of revitalizing downtown with mixed residential and commercial developments. Barratt Urban Development recently began construction on another 122-unit condominium project next to the Fireside property at the site of a former bowling alley.

The Fireside steakhouse was built in 1949 and was for years a place for power lunches and the meetings of civic organizations in Escondido.

In addition, the Planning Commission will discuss proposed changes to a previously approved project to renovate the boarded-up Escondido Gardens Retirement Center in south Escondido. Escondido Property Managers is now asking to demolish the 5-story former hotel because remodeling it would be difficult and cost-prohibitive, according to a city planning report.

Under the previous proposal, the 5-story tower at 2500 S. Escondido Blvd. would include 38 residential units and office, retail and restaurant space. Escondido Property Managers' new proposal is to replace the tower with 25 three-story townhome units attached in six buildings. The rest of the project, which would include 37 three-bedroom townhome units in the former parking lot, an underground parking lot and a commercial development at the front of the property, is unchanged.

The City Council approved a set of incentives for the south Escondido project in August including a reduction in fees and a reduction in required parking. The change requires a re-approval of the incentives by the Council.

Contact staff writer Quinn Eastman at (760) 740-5412 or qeastman@nctimes.com.

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